Bucket Lisk.

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Intro

Promotion-chasing Liskeard Athletic host the first Saturday game of the Easter Groundhop today. Currently in 2nd place – 5 points behind 1st position, but with 3 games in hand over AFC St Austell, The Blues have lost just once so far in the league this season. That loss came at the end of January and was a heavy defeat to St Austell. Since then Athletic have played just once – a routine 3-0 win over Wadebridge Town. Subsequent games have been hampered by the awful weather that 2024 has brought with it thus far. Liskeard’s league campaign got off to an incredible start as they won all 9 of their opening matches – one sour point was losing to Bridgwater United in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, quickly followed by a loss to Crediton United in the FA Vase. They didn’t let these blips dent their league form, however, as they continued winning the majority of their matches – often emphatically.

Dobwalls make the three-and-a-half mile hop eastwards today in 6th position. Their form is currently slightly up and down having won their last 2 matches away against Newquay AFC and Truro City Reserves, but losing the 2 before that at home. They had a decent run in the FA Vase – beating two Western League Premier outfits in St Blazey and Millbrook, before losing narrowly to Longwell Green Sports in Bristol. The Dingos will be looking for an improvement on the reverse of this fixture – a 4-0 loss at Lantoom Park on Boxing Day.

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The Ground

Lux Park has been home to Liskeard Athletic since they were formed just after the end of World War 2. It is found up the hill, just outside of the town centre. Along one side is a covered, seated stand, while opposite this is a flat, covered standing area. Both of these would prove popular in the early stages of today’s game, as the weather threatened to put a dampener on things. Behind one goal is a large area which was today being used to cook up burgers for the bumper crowd. There is a small wooden clubhouse in one corner. The other end feels very open with just a chain-link fence separating the pitch from a road.

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The Match

The frustrating start of the rainfall began just as the players made their way onto the Lux Park pitch. The opening exchanges were pretty evenly-balanced, and it was the hosts who had the first sight on goal – Josh Johnson firing a shot straight at Cory Harvey in the home goal. On the quarter-hour mark the hosts’ number 9 Charlie Young scuffed a shot wide. 9 minutes later they would have more luck – Dobwalls’ keeper James Morley parrying another Young shot into the path of Ruben Kane, who had the relatively easy task of guiding the ball into the net. On 36 minutes a Dobwalls cross found its way to winger Kaycee Ogwu who had plenty of time but could only fire over from 7 yards out. Just before half time Liskeard’s Dan Jennings got on the end of a good cross but his header was easy for Morley.

Against the early run of play, Ogwu suddenly broke through the Liskeard defence. He was clear through on goal but his shot was more or less straight at Harvey. It was a let off for the home side who made the visitors pay 4 minutes later. Captain Max Gilbert took the ball around Morley and finished from a tight angle. Morley made a good save just after the hour, this time from a direct free kick. Chances were becoming less frequent as Liskeard were happy to frustrate their opponents. The Blues had a decent shout for a penalty waved away as Harry Jeffery tussled with Dobwalls’ captain Joe Cook, but referee Paul Redding wasn’t interested. The last big chance fell to the hosts – substitute Jarrad Woods’ shot was beaten away by Morley, who thwarted the follow-up with a good second save.

It was largely a comfortable for title-chasing Liskeard in front of a bumper Easter Hop crowd. The event was well organised, and despite the weather must be considered a success.

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The Photos

The full gallery of match photos is also available HERE